Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said civic officials responsible for illegal constructions will face criminal action. Replying to a query over illegal constructions in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region in Pune, Chavan informed the state Assembly that the President had approved the state
government’s amendment to section 66 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act.

The legal provision would help the state government in curbing illegal construction, because the onus of preventing such structures would be on the local municipal officers.

In Mumbai, it would be the responsibility of the ward officer or the assistant municipal commissioner, said minister of state for urban development Sachin Ahir.